Cloth-shearing machine.



No. 65!,Il4. Patented June 5, I900.

T. H. GREENE.

CLOTH SHEABING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 1, 1897.

4 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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Patented June 5, I900.

' No. 65l,ll4.

T. H. GREENE. CLOTH SHEARING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 1, 1897,)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

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No. 65!,4. Patented June 5, I900.

T. H. GREENE.

CLOTH SHEARING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 1, 1897.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet Q.

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PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS H. GREENE, OF VOONSOCKET, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE WOONSOCKET NAPPING MACHINERY COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CLOTH-SHEARING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 651,114, dated June 5, 1900.

Application filed July 1, 1897. Serial No. 643,093. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. GREENE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Woonsocket, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cloth-Shearing Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

It has been proposed heretofore to apply to the cloth rest or bed of a cloth-shearing machine-namely, to the edge thereof which is next adjacent to the rotary cutting cylinder or revolvera yielding surface or cushion,

the object of the said yielding surface or cushion being to permit any knot or hard surface within or under the cloth or fabric being operated upon to sink or be depressed into the elastic or yielding cushion. This obviates injury to the cloth or fabric such as would occur if the yielding surface or cushion were not employed. In the latter case the knot or other hard surface within or under the cloth or fabric, as aforesaid, would raise the face of the cloth into such prominence at the place where such knot or enlargement occurs that the rotary cutter or revolver either would operate to shear off more of the material atthe surface of the cloth than is desirable or might even out a hole in the cloth or fabric. One form of the yielding surface or cushion aforesaidis presented in the United States Patent No. 450,028, to E. Martin and T. F. Drake, granted April 7, 1891. In the said patent a length of india-rubber (shown therein as cylindrical in cross-section and hollow or tubular) is shown and described as placed in a groove formed in the apex of the cloth rest or bed and extending longitudinally of the latter.

My present invention relates to cloth-beds or cloth-rests having applied thereto yielding cushions or surfaces such or substantially such as aforesaid.

Certain of the objects of the invention are to obviate disadvantages or defects which are incident to or inherent in the yielding surface or cushion and to enable certain new and improved results to be attained in connection with the said yielding cushion or surface.

Other objects are to extend the use of the said yielding cushions or surfaces to connections in which they have not hitherto been employed.

The invention consists, first, in a means of compensating for or correcting irregularities or unevenness in the level of the top of the yielding cushion or surface and also for variations in the elasticity or compressibility thereof.

The invention consists, secondly, in the combination,with the said yielding cushion or surface, of what are known as automatic list or selvage protectors.

I The invention will be described first with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which I have represented the best embodiments thereof that I have yet contrived, after which the distinguishing characteristics of the invention will be particularly pointed out and distinctly defined in the claims at the close of this specification.

Figure l of the drawings shows in vertical section on the line 1 l of Fig. 2, looking in the direction that is indicated by the arrows at the ends of such line, a cloth bed or rest and certain of the adjacent parts with one embodiment of my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan of the parts which are representedin Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view in elevation, looking from the left-hand side in Fig. 1, representing one end portion of the cloth bed or rest and the parts which are applied thereto and showing one means of adjustingthe corset, which is described hereinafter.

Fig. 4 is a similar view, but showing the other end portion of the cloth bed or rest and another means of adjustment for the corset. Fig. 5 is a View mainly in vertical longitudinal section on the plane of the dotted line 5 5 of Fig. 6 looking in the direction that is indicated by the arrows at the ends of such line, illustrating a modification, which is described hereinafter. Fig. 6 is a View in vertical section'on the plane that is indicated by the dotted line 6 6 in Fig. 5 looking in the direction that is indicated by the arrows at the ends of the said line.

1 designates the cross-bar, constituting the support for the clot-h bed or rest 'of a cloth- 10o shearing machine.

2 is the yielding cushion or surface.

21 is the supporting-bed on which the cushion 2 is laid, the latter being received in a longitudinal groove, which is formed in the said supporting-bed, as shown in Fig. 1, and the latter being secured in suitable manner to the cross-bar 1.

3 3, &c., are rolls by means of which the cloth is guided in its movement.

4 is the cover, of silesia or similar fabric, which is extended over the cloth bed or rest, yielding cushion, and other parts adjacent thereto, this cover being employed in practice for the purpose of reducing friction between the moving cloth or fabric which is being sheared and the said yielding cushion, of holding the said yielding cushion in place, and of protecting the same from injury.

5 5are rods or rolls to which the ends of the said cover 4: are secured.

All of the foregoing parts are or may be as usual or of any suitable or preferred construction.

In accordance with the first part of my invention I employ a means whereby to compensate for or correct any unevenness in the level of the top surface of the cushion 2 or any irregularity in the compressibility or elasticity of the said cushion. \Vhen made of caout chouc, as has been the ease up to the present time, it has been found difficult to secure a tube, roll, or the like of such material of the necessary length of absolutely nnvaryingdiameter, and any oil which drops upon the same causesthe material thereof to swell at the place which is affected by the oil. As will be obvious, unevenness in the level of the top of the cushion is objectionable, inasmuch as it prevents the attainment of the desired absolute uniformity in the shearing. So, also, variations in the compressibility and elasticity of the cushion tend to occasion unevenness in the shearing. The variations in compressibility and elasticity throughout the length of the cushion arise from variations in the quality of the material thereof, from unequal changes or deterioration in such material, from variations in the thickness of the walls thereof at different points when the cushion is made in the form of a tube, and from other causes. As will be obvious, the more compressible and yielding portions of the cushion will sink more under the strain of the cover 4 or that of the cloth or fabric being operated upon.

I remedy the foregoing disadvantages by providing a means which enables me to level up the top surface of the cushion, as may be required, in order to compensate for unevenness, and also to so adjust the cushion at various points in the direction of the length thereof as to compensate for the variations in compressibility and elasticity to which attention has been called in the foregoin Thereby I am enabled in a simple and expeditious manner to provide for attaining absolute uniformity in the shearing. I have shown in the accompanying drawings two different manners in which the desired ends may be attained. Thus in Figs. 1 to 4: I have shown a length of flexible material possessing sufficient strength and at 6 interposed between the cushion 2 and the cover4, the said length passing around also certain of the adjacent parts-such, for example, as the cross-bar 1 and the cover 7--which overlies certain parts at the left of the cushion in Fig. 1. This length of material 6 I designate for convenience a corset, and I provide it with means which enables it to be strained or drawn upon to the extent which may be required at various places in the direction of the length of the cloth bed or rest, whereby to compress more or less the successive portions of the length of the cushion 2 in a manner which will be obvious and which enables me to correct any inequality of height and also to com pcnsate for any variation of compressibility or elasticity wherever it may exist throughout the length of the cushion. It will be ap parent that any place which rises higher than the other portions of the cushion may be drawn down to the common level by straining that part of the corset which bears thereon, and so by adjustment of the compression at different places the various parts of the length of the cushion may be held in a state of uniform elasticity. In Figs. 1 and 3 I have shown the ends of the corsettias brought somewhat closely together and as connected by means of a lacing or lacings 8, the latter being passed through suitable lacing-holes, which are made at suitable intervals apart across the width of the corset. In practice these lacing strip or strips 8 will be tightened until the requisite degree of tension of the corset has been produced, and any unevenness or regularity of the cushion, such as has herein been referred to and which is found to exist at any point or points across the machine, will be corrected or compensated by drawing the lacing strip or strips more tightly at such points than elsewhere. Any required degree of strain may be imparted at the desired place or places across the width of the machine. Fig. 4t shows the use of hooks or the like, as at 10 10, engaging with the edges of the cloth and provided with right and left hand screw connections 11. A great variety of means admits of being employed in practice for the purpose of straining the corset as required in lieu of the lacing strip or strips 8 or the hooks 10 and screw connections 11, and I do not wish to be limited to any particular form of device. In' some cases the corset (3 may serve also the function of the cover at,- and the separate cover et may be omitted.

Another means of obtaining the same results as those which are attained by the devices of Figs. 1 to 4, already described, is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. In these figures the cushion 2 rests on the concaved upper side of the bed 22, which is held to the side of the cross-bar 1 by means of bolts or screws 23 23,

ICC

the latter passing through vertically-elongated slots 24 24, which are made through the said bed 22. 241 isa strip or flange which is provided on the cross-bar 1 below the bed 22. 25 are bolts or screws having plain stems,

which are passed through plain holes in the.

strip or flange, the heads of the said bolts or screws being below the said strip or flange and in contact therewith, while the threaded upper ends of the said bolts are received in correspondingly threaded or tapped hole at 26 in the bed 22. 261 are other bolts or screws having plain upper ends, which bear against the under side of the bed 22, and also having threaded stems which pass through corres-pondingly-threaded holes which are tapped in the strip or flange. The bolts or screws 25 and 261 constitute a convenient means of enabling me to press upward or draw downward any given portion of the length of the bed which it may be desired to deflect vertically upward or downward in order to compensate for variations in the cushion.

- As will be perceived by the practical mechanic, the form and arrangement of setting screws or bolts which I have shown in Figs. 5 and 6 constitute only one out of many forms and arrangements which are equally serviceable and available for the purpose, and therefore I wish it to be understood thatl do not restrict myself to any particular means of deflecting the bed 22.

Heretofore, so far as I am aware, a yielding cushion such as that herein referred to and designated 2 has never been combined with the slides, &c., of automatic list or selvage protectors. The second portion of my invention consists in applying said cushion 2 in connection with the opposite sets of slides 12 12 of the automatic list or selvage protectors, which are located at the ends of the bed 21 and cooperate with the latter. I hollow out or concave the upper ends of these slides to receive the extremities of the cushion 2, as shown.

13 13 are the sliding cam-bars by means of which the slides 12 12 are actuated in usual manner, the said cam-bars having each a projecting rib or flange entering slots or notches that are provided in the edges of the slides 12 12, all as usual and as indicated in the drawings.

14 14 are brackets or arms which are attached to the cam-bars 13 13 and each having pivotally mounted thereon-na1nely,at the inner end of each of the said brackets or arms the pair of toothed feelers 15. Each pair of toothed feelers 15 is mounted upon a pivotal pin or screw 16, which is applied to the corresponding bracket or arm 14, the usual double-acting detent-plate 17 being placed upon the said pin between the two feelers or a pair and the said detent-plate having the usual pin-and-slot connection with the said feelers, as at 18.

19 19 is the usual reciprocating rack-bar, it havingteeth which cooperate with the detentdisks 17 17 and through the engagement of said teeth with the said detent-plate operating to shift the cam-bars 13 13 inwardly and outwardly crosswise of the machine, according as the positions of the lists or selvages of the cloth being operated upon may vary. The rack bar may in practice he reciprocated by any suitable or approved-devices. (Not necessary to be shown herein.) Available forms of actuating devices are presented in the United States patents to A. Woolson, No. 7,407, granted May 28, 1850, and No. 43,878,

granted August 16, 1864.

In my present improved construction thecover 4 and corset 6 pass down between the feeders 15, their detent-plates 17, and the rack-bar 19 on the one hand and the bed 21, its cushion 2, and the cam-bars 13 13 on the other hand. or brackets 14 14 so as that the said cover 4 and corset 6 may pass down between the said arms or brackets and the cam-bars 13 13. The cover 7, to which referencehas been made hereinbefore, also passes between the said arms or bracket and the said cam-bars, it being attached conveniently to the blocks or brackets 263, which latter are located ad.- jacent to the opposite ends of the cloth-bed or cloth-rest. As will be understood, those portions of the cushion 2 which overlie the slides 12 12 that for the time i being are de-.

presseddroop or yield sufliciently to enable the cloth resting upon such portions to escape the action of the blades of the revolver. The

clearly in Figs. 3 and 4.

In the case of the modification which is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 I find it convenient to provide means for enabling the inner.

ends of the cam-bars 13 13 to be adjusted to correspond with the adjustment of the proximate ends of the bed 22. To this end the blocks 31 31, which constitute supports for the inner ends of the said cam-bars, are provided with adjusting-screws 32 and 33, acting, respectively, to lower and to raise the said ends of the said cam-bars, and the said screws also serve to lock the said ends in the desired position of adjustment.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination with the yielding cushion of a cloth-shearing machine, of means to adjust the various portions of the length thereof to compensate for variations or irregularities in elasticity, height, 850., and thereby secure uniformity in the shearing, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the yielding cush- I bend. the free ends of the arms ion of a cloth-shearing machine, of means to vary the height of the various portions in the length of the same to compensate for unevenness and irregularities in elasticity, height, 850., and thereby secure uniformity in the shearing, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a yielding cushion of a cloth-shearing machine, of a flexible retainer therefor, and means to enable the tension of said retainer to be varied at different points in the length of the cushion in order to compensate for unevenness and irregularities in the latter, substantially as described.

4. The combination with the yielding cushion of a cloth-shearing machine, of a corset, as (3, applied to the same, and means to cause said corset to engage the said cushion with capacity for variation in tension at different places in the direction of the length of the cushion, substantially as described.

5. The combination with the cloth-bed or cloth-rest of a cloth-shearing machine, and automatic list or selvage protector devices applied thereto having adjustable sections which are varied in position according to that of the cloth, to extend the operative length of the cloth-bed or cloth-rest in either direction, of the yielding cushion or surface applied to the working portions of the cloth-bed or clothrest and of the said adjustable sections, and the cover 4 extended over the said yielding cushion or surface, the said protector devices having the brackets or arms 14, 14, thereof extended clear of the said cover and holding the feelers thereon exposed to the action of the passing cloth, substantially as described.

6. The combination with the cloth-bed or cloth-rest of a cloth-shearing machine, and automatic list or selvage protector devices applied thereto having adjustable sections which are varied in position according to that of the cloth to extend the operative length of the cloth-bed or cloth-restin either direction,

of the yielding cushion or surface applied to corset, the said protector devices having the brackets or arms 14, 14, thereof extended clear of the said corset and cover and holding the feelers thereon exposed to the action of the passing cloth, substantially as described.

7. The combination with the cloth-bed or cloth-rest of a cloth-shearing machine, and the movable slides at the opposite ends there- 'of, the yielding cushion or surface applied to the working edge of the said bed or rest and also extended past the series of slides, and the cam-bars engaging with the said slides, of the brackets 14, 14, applied to the said cam-bars and separated by spaces therefrom except at the outer ends of the brackets, the feelers and detent-plates applied to the said brackets, the rack-bar cooperating with the said detent-plates, and the cover 4 extended over the said cam-bars and between the latter and the said brackets, substantially as described.

8. The combination with the cloth-bed or cloth-rest of a cloth-shearing machine, movable extensions or slides at the ends thereof, and automatic devices under the control of the moving cloth whereby said extensions or slides are adjusted to suit the position of the cloth, of the yielding cushion or surface applied to the working edge of the said clothbed or cloth-rest and also overlying the said extensions or slides, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS H. GREENE.

Witnesses:

CHAS. F. RANDALL, WILLIAM A. COPELAND. 

